HYBRID INFORMATION
406General information about Twin
Engine
Twin Engine vehicles are driven just like any
other vehicle, but certain functions differ from a
vehicle powered exclusively by gasoline. The
electric motor powers the vehicle primarily at low
speeds; the gasoline engine is used at higher
speeds or during more active driving. The instrument panel displays Twin Engine-spe-
cific information - charging information, selected
drive mode, distance to discharged battery and
hybrid battery charge level.
Different drive modes can be selected while driv-
ing, e.g. electric power only or, if more power is
needed, a combination of electric and gasoline
power. The vehicle calculates the optimal combi-
nation of driveability, driving experience, environ-
mental impact and fuel economy for the selected
drive mode.
In order to function optimally, the hybrid battery
(and its electrical drive systems) and the gasoline
engine (and its drive systems) must be at the
correct operating temperature. Battery capacity
can be considerably reduced if the battery is too
cold or too hot. Preconditioning prepares the
vehicle's drive systems and passenger compart-
ment before driving to help reduce both wear and
energy consumption. It also helps increase the
hybrid battery's range.
The hybrid battery, which powers the electric
motor, is recharged using the charging cable. It
can also be recharged during light braking and through engine braking in gear position B. The
combustion engine can also help recharge the
hybrid battery.
Important
No electrical current
Keep in mind that if there is no electrical current
to the vehicle, i.e. the ignition is switched off or
the start battery is discharged, certain functions
such as brakes, power steering, etc. will not work.
WARNING If the vehicle does not have electrical current
and both the electric motor and the gasoline
engine are switched off, the brakes cannot be
used to stop the vehicle.
Towing not permitted
Never tow a Twin Engine vehicle behind another
vehicle, as this could damage the electric motor.
Exterior engine noise
WARNING
Keep in mind that the vehicle does not emit
any engine noise when using the electric
motor and may therefore be difficult to detect
for children, pedestrians, cyclists or animals.
This is especially true at low speeds, e.g. in
parking lots.
High-voltage electrical current
WARNING Several components in the vehicle work with
high voltage that can be hazardous in case of
an incorrect procedure. These components
and any orange wiring in the vehicle may only
be handled by trained and qualified Volvo
service technicians.
Do not touch anything that is not clearly descri-
bed in this Owner's Manual.
Related information
• Charging the hybrid battery (p. 407)
• Hybrid gauge (p. 87)
• Drive modes (p. 445)
• Starting and stopping preconditioning
(p. 231)
• Hybrid battery (p. 619)
• Factors affecting electric motor range
(p. 458)
• Gear selector positions for automatic trans-
missions (p. 439)
• Towing using a towline (p. 476)
HYBRID INFORMATION
}}
407
Charging the hybrid battery
In addition to the conventional fuel tank, your
vehicle is also equipped with a rechargeable
lithium-ion hybrid battery.
The hybrid battery can be recharged using the
charging cable stored in a storage space in the
cargo compartment.
WARNING
The hybrid electrical system in your vehicle
uses high voltage electrical current. Any dam-
age to this system or to the hybrid battery
may result in the danger of overheating, fire,
or serious injury. If the vehicle is involved in a
collision or subjected to flooding, fire, etc.,
have it inspected by a trained and qualified
Volvo service technician. Prior to this inspec-
tion, the vehicle should be parked outdoors at
a safe distance from any building or poten-
tially flammable materials.
The hybrid battery's charging time depends on
the charging current used.
NOTE The capacity of the hybrid battery diminishes
somewhat with age and use, which could
result in increased use of the gasoline engine
and consequently, slightly higher fuel con-
sumption.
WARNING If the hybrid battery needs to be replaced, this
may only be done by Volvo retailer or author-
ized Volvo workshop.
Charging cable handle and charging socket.
Charging status is indicated in three ways:
• The indicator lights in the charging module
(the unit connected to the wall outlet).
• Indicator light in the vehicle's charging
socket.
• Images and text in the instrument panel.
The hybrid battery's charging process also
charges the vehicle's start battery.
If the hybrid battery's temperature is below
-10 ºC (14 ºF) or above 40 ºC (104 ºF), some of
the vehicle's functions may be reduced or not
available at all. The electric motor cannot be used if the battery's
temperature is too low or too high. If the PURE
drive mode is selected, the gasoline engine will
start.
Charging using the gasoline engine
The vehicle generates electrical current to charge the
battery, e.g. when the driver lightly presses the brake
pedal or when engine braking is used on downgrades.
The vehicle can also generate current to the
hybrid battery to charge it.
• The hybrid battery can also be recharged by
lightly depressing the brake pedal, i.e. during
light braking. This converts the vehicle's
kinetic energy to electrical energy, which is
used to charge the hybrid battery.
• In gear position B, the electric motor brakes
the vehicle when the accelerator pedal is
||HYBRID INFORMATION
410
CAUTION
Wipe the charging cable with a clean cloth
lightly moistened with water or a mild deter-
gent. Do not use chemicals or solvents. Do
not submerge the charging cable.
The charging cable and its components
should not be rinsed or immersed in water.
CAUTION
Avoid exposing the charging module and its
plug to direct sunlight. In such cases, the
overheating protection in the plug could
reduce or cut off charging of the hybrid bat-
tery.
Charging cable components
Charge module 240 V adapter clip
240 V adapter
Charge coupler
Release button
Related information
•
Charging cable residual current device
(p. 410)
• Charging cable temperature monitoring
(p. 411)
• Charging the hybrid battery (p. 407)
• Charging status in the charging cable's
charging module (p. 415) Charging cable residual current
device
The charging cable has a circuit breaker that
helps protect against current overloads and ther-
mal overheating.
If the charging cable's residual current device is
triggered, the blue indicator light in the charging
module will not illuminate when the charging
cable is plugged into an electrical outlet (or the
red warning light will glow steadily). Have the out-
let checked by a licensed electrician or try using
another wall outlet.
WARNING Charging the hybrid battery may only be done
from approved, grounded 120-/240 V outlets
(AC, alternating current). If the electrical cir-
cuit or electrical socket's capacity is not
known, let a licensed electrician inspect the
electrical circuit's capacity. Using a charge
level that exceeds the electrical circuit's or
electrical outlet's capacity may start a fire or
damage the electrical circuit.
HYBRID INFORMATION
}}
413 •
Disconnect the charger from the wall out-
let before cleaning it.
• Never connect the charging cable to an
extension cord or a multiple plug socket.
Also, refer to the manufacturer's instructions
for using the charging cable and its compo-
nents.
CAUTION Make sure that the 120/240 V outlet (AC,
alternating current) has a power capacity suf-
ficient for charging electric vehicles. If you are
uncertain of the capacity, have the outlet
checked by a licensed electrician.
Take out the charging cable from the storage
compartment under the cargo area. Note that the
ignition must be switched off completely before
charging. Plug the charging cable into a 120/240 V
outlet. Never use an extension cord.
Open the charger door and remove the
charging socket's protective cover. Push the
charging handle all the way into the vehicle's
socket.3.
The charging cable handle will lock into
place and charging will begin within
5 seconds. When charging starts, the green
LED light in the charging socket will begin to
flash. The approximate remaining charging
time or the charging status will be displayed
in the instrument panel.
Charging may be temporarily interrupted if
the vehicle is unlocked:
• and a door is open ‒ charging will restart
within a few minutes.
• if no door is opened ‒ the vehicle will
automatically relock. Charging will resume
after 1 minute.
CAUTION Never detach the charging cable from the
120/240 V outlet (AC, alternating current)
while charging is in progress – the
120/240 V outlet could be damaged in such
circumstances. Always interrupt charging first
and then disconnect the charging cable – first
from the vehicle's charging socket and then
from the 120/240 V outlet.
During charging, condensation from the air con-
ditioning may form under the vehicle. This is nor-
mal and is caused by the hybrid battery cooling.
STARTING AND DRIVING
}}
* Option/accessory. 445
Drive modes
Drive modes affect the vehicle's driving charac-
teristics in different ways to enhance and sim-
plify the driving experience in certain types of sit-
uations. Drive modes enable easy access to the vehicle's
many functions and settings in different driving
situations. The following systems are adapted to
help optimize driving characteristics in each drive
mode:
• Steering
• Engine/transmission/all-wheel drive
• Brakes
• Pneumatic suspension* and shock absorbers
• Instrument panel
• Climate control settings
Select the drive mode that is best suited to the
current driving conditions. Keep in mind that not
all drive modes are available in all situations.
Available drive modes
WARNING Keep in mind that the vehicle does not emit
any engine noise when using the electric
motor and may therefore be difficult to detect
for children, pedestrians, cyclists or animals.
This is particularly true at low speeds, e.g. in
parking lots.
WARNING
Do not leave the vehicle in an unventilated
area with a drive mode activated and the com-
bustion engine switched off. The engine will
start automatically if the charge level in the
hybrid battery is low and the resulting exhaust
gases can be very harmful to people and ani-
mals.
HYBRID
•
This is the default mode in which the electric
motor and combustion engine work together.
The vehicle starts in Hybrid mode. The control
system uses both the electric motor and the gas-
oline engine - separately or in tandem - and cal-
culates optimal utilization with regard to perform-
ance, fuel consumption and comfort. At high
speeds, ground clearance is automatically low-
ered 4
to reduce air resistance. Driving capacity on
the electric motor alone is determined by factors such as the hybrid battery's charge level, the
need for heat/cooling in the passenger compart-
ment, etc.
If there is sufficient charge in the battery, it is
possible to drive solely on electric power. When
the accelerator pedal is pressed, only the electric
motor will be activated until the battery reaches a
certain charge level. Above this level, the current
in the battery cannot supply the power requested
by the accelerator pedal and the combustion
engine will start.
When the hybrid battery's charge level is low, the
combustion engine will start more frequently to
save the remaining current in the battery. Charge
the hybrid battery from a 120-240 volt outlet
using a charging cable, or activate
Charge in
Function view to reset the option of only using
the electric motor.
This drive mode is designed for low energy con-
sumption with an optimized mix between the
electric motor and gasoline engine, without com-
promising on climate comfort or driving experi-
ence. When faster acceleration is requested by
the driver, the electric driveline will be utilized to
help provide maximum additional power. The
vehicle also monitors the driving conditions and
automatically engages all-wheel drive if neces-
sary. All-wheel drive and extra electric power are
always available regardless of the battery's
charging status. 4
For vehicles with pneumatic suspension.
STARTING AND DRIVING
}}
457
Driving
• Choose the Pure drive mode to help mini-
mize electric power consumption.
• Maintain a steady speed and a generous fol-
lowing distance to traffic ahead to minimize
braking. This drive mode has the lowest
power consumption.
• Balance energy requirements using the
accelerator pedal. Use the indicator on the
instrument panel to see available electric
power and avoid starting the combustion
engine unnecessarily. The electric motor is
more effective than the combustion engine,
especially at low speeds.
• When braking is necessary, brake gently
using the brake pedal. This will recharge the
hybrid battery. A regenerative function is
integrated in the brake pedal and can be
augmented by the electric motor's braking
capacity when the gear selector is in mode
B.
• Higher speeds increase energy consumption
- air resistance increases with speed.
• Activate the
Hold function in the Function
view at high speeds when traveling farther
than is possible using the hybrid battery's
capacity.
• Whenever possible, avoid using the Charge
function to charge the hybrid battery. Charg-
ing the battery using the combustion engine increases fuel consumption and carbon diox-
ide emissions.
• In a cold climate, reduce heating of the wind-
shield/rear window, mirrors, seats and the
steering wheel.
• Maintain the correct pressure in the tires and
check pressure regularly.
• The type of tires used could affect energy
consumption - consult a retailer for advice on
suitable tires.
• Remove unnecessary items from the vehicle
- the heavier the load, the higher the fuel
consumption.
• Roof loads increase air resistance and
increase fuel consumption. Remove roof
boxes, ski racks, etc. that are not in use.
• Avoid driving with the windows open.
• Do not keep the vehicle still on an upward
gradient by using the accelerator pedal. Use
the brakes instead.
Related information
•
Drive-E
‒
purer driving pleasure (p. 27)
• Factors affecting electric motor range
(p. 458)
• Using the electric motor only (p. 457)
• Hybrid gauge (p. 87)
• Checking tire pressure (p. 557) Using the electric motor only
When using the electric motor, Volvo Twin
Engine provides a combination of good fuel
economy, low emissions and high performance.
For energy-efficient driving:
• Select the Pure drive mode to help maximize
driving range using only the electric motor.
• Balance energy requirements using the
accelerator pedal. Use the indicator on the
instrument panel's hybrid gauge to see avail-
able electric power and avoid starting the
combustion engine unnecessarily.
• When braking is necessary, brake gently
using the brake pedal. This will recharge the
hybrid battery.
• Activate the
Hold function in the Function
view at high speeds when traveling farther
than is possible using the hybrid battery's
capacity.
• Reduce current consumption in the passen-
ger compartment by reducing e.g. fan speed,
electric heating, or air conditioning use.
Also follow the general economical driving advice
regarding speed, tires and load to maximize
range.
Related information
• General information about Twin Engine
(p. 406)
• Economical driving (p. 456)
STARTING AND DRIVING
461
•
Speed limiter (p. 278)
• Tire sealing system (p. 572) Winter driving
It is important to check the vehicle before driving
in cold/snowy conditions to make sure it can be
driven safely.
Before the cold season arrives:• Make sure the engine coolant contains 50%
antifreeze. This mixture helps protect the
engine from frost erosion down to
approx. -35 °C (-31 °F). Do not mix different
types of antifreeze as this could pose a
health risk.
• Keep the fuel tank well filled to prevent con-
densation from forming.
• Check the viscosity of the engine oil. Oil with
low viscosity (thinner oil) improves cold-
weather starting and reduces fuel consump-
tion when driving with a cold engine.
CAUTION Low-viscosity oil should not be used with hard
driving or in hot weather.
•
Check the condition and charge level of the
start battery. Cold weather places greater
demands on the start battery and reduces its
capacity.
• Use washer fluid containing antifreeze to
help prevent ice from forming in the washer
fluid reservoir.
Slippery driving conditionsFor optimal traction and roadholding, Volvo rec-
ommends using snow tires on all wheels when-
ever there is a risk of snow or ice on the road.
NOTE Certain countries require use of winter tires
by law. Not all countries permit the use of
studded tires.
Practice driving on slippery surfaces under con-
trolled conditions to learn how the vehicle reacts.
Related information
•
Snow tires (p. 571)
• Snow chains (p. 571)
• Braking on salted roads (p. 431)
• Braking on wet roads (p. 431)
• Filling washer fluid (p. 650)
• Start battery (p. 615)
• Replacing windshield wiper blades (p. 648)
• Changing rear window wipers (p. 647)
• Refilling coolant (p. 612)
||MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE
616
CAUTION
Only a modern battery charger with controlled
charge voltage should be used to charge the
starter battery. The rapid charging function
should not be used as this could damage the
battery.
NOTE
If both the starter battery and the hybrid bat-
tery are discharged, both batteries must be
charged. In such cases, it is not possible to
charge only the hybrid battery first.
The starter battery must have a certain level
of charge for it to be possible to charge the
hybrid battery.
CAUTION Failure to observe the following could cause
the infotainment energy save mode to tempo-
rarily stop working and/or a message in the
driver's display regarding the state of charge
of the starter battery may be temporarily
incorrect after an external starter battery or
battery charger has been connected:
• The negative battery terminal of the vehi-
cle's starter battery must never be used
to connect an external starter battery or
battery charger – only the vehicle's neg-
ative charging point should be used as
a grounding point.NOTE If the starter battery becomes discharged too
many times, it will shorten its service life.
The service life of the starter battery is affec-
ted by several factors, such as driving condi-
tions and climate. The starting capacity of the
battery reduces gradually over time. The bat-
tery must therefore be recharged if the vehi-
cle is not used or a long period of time or if it
is only driven short distances. Severe cold fur-
ther limits the starting capacity.
To keep the starter battery in a good condi-
tion, the vehicle should be driven at least
15 minutes per week or the battery should be
connected to a battery charger with automatic
trickle charging.
A starter battery that is always kept fully
charged has the maximum service life.